Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-07-29
KEEP COOL"
Some Timely observations Show.
ing that Man Continues to be
N Oueer Creature.

Some Timely observations show.
ing that Man Continues to be
n queer Creature.
We are a composite population in
this country, says the New York Star,
and even those parts of us that have
been settled here longest seem very
slow about adapting themselves to the
climate of our continent. We have
got 50 far along in the process that we
know enough to go in when it rains,
or else carry a permanently-borrowed
umbrella, and to put on thick clothes
in cold weather. But we have not yet
learned how to dress in hot weather.
1t is easy enough to seek relief by
taking off clothes; bat the question
what clothes to put on requires a
higher reach of intellect. The first
step in the evolution of summer cos
tune appears to be a reversion to
primitive instinct, which causes the
removal of that veneer of human civ
ilization ordinarily described as ceat.
There is latent disposition in
male humanity, on sweter-
ing days, to get down at least
part way to that natural war paint
which covers the body. The shirt col
lar is apt to follow the discarded coat,
and the waistcoat not infrequently is
shed at the same time. Doubtless If
this instinct were slavishly obeyed it
would reduce man to vestment con-
sisting of few feathers and his COM
plexion. But fans are next called in,
as compromise between civilization
and the return to savage nature.
While these crude attempts afford a
certain satisfaction in the seclusion OF
home or the office, it is only in small
towns, or in particular grades of life
which do not boast of social distinc-
ton, that man may walk the street
in his shirt sleeves. And now we
have to observe a curious anomaly.
The citizen who knows how to keep
cool in private when he is not
exposed to the sun and does
SO without compnnction, feels
Obliged the moment he steps out into
the broiling sunlight to make himself
as hot as possible. As a forced con-
cession to the climate he, OF course,
wears thinner clothes than he would
wear in winter; but they are not thin
enough to make him uncomfortable.
Nevertheless, he refuses, as rule, to
carry an umbrella, because in some to-
tally different climate in another
part of the world, or in the
country, where there are trees,
water and fresh air, an umbrella is
considered efeminate. For some
similar want of reason he has thin
clothes fitted close like those worn in
the winter. Furthermore, owing to a
superstition that the stability of society
will somehow suffer if he does not
exhibit linen shirt, he insists upon
trudging around with a starched collar
and cuffs Il at soon become as limp as
a convicted alderman and as useless
as last years almanac.
A few hours later the same man,
having arrived at his rural home, or
having run down to the seashore,
where the air is cool and starched
collar could be made to survive with
out effort, will carefully Undue himself
in light flannel suit and an impon-
derous white flannel shirt, decorated
according to taste. Teen when at
leisure and not needing to
keep especially cool, he is con-
yinced that he has fulfilled
h duty to the state and to civiliza-
ton. The fetch worship of the
starched collar is carried so far that,
i'm small towns near the sea, negll-
gent costume of flannel which is held
to be perfectly proper on the beach
must Immediately be exchanged for
the starched collar and the spacious
linen bosom front when the wearer
returns to the town mile or so
inland, where the temperature is
higher.
Some persons are made uncomforta-
BILE by flannel, and profess to prefer
linen thoroughly moistened with
perspiration. If they must have
damp linen, we might recommend
them to wear it underneath, and the
cool, flexible flannel outside. They
would at any rate look better then.
Thin alpaca, loose collars, and UNI
brellas may be prescribed for the
deyotees of starch. But the great
majority will be chiefly benefited by
adopting roomy garments of flannel,
and displacing the close waistcoat
WIN shirt COIlldiilliS ohiaii
Suitable clothes for outdoor lie, Tor
yachting, wheeling and tennis have
already come into vogue. A few years
ago these costumes made the wearers
seem conspicuous, and exposed
them to ridicule when they ventured
to display them on the streets; but 1t
is gradually getting to be recognized
that man may attire himself sensibly
and comfortably in summer without
being set down as an eccentric. Ii II
be proper to evade the heat when one
is idling in a comparatively cool place.
how much greater the propriety OF
dressing in a convenient, informal
style while at work in the overheated
city.
Why not keep cool?